Lamp-support



(No Model.) 2 sheets Sheet '1.

' J. A. MILLER.

LAMP SUPPORT.

N0. 439,671. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

N M d1.) I 0 o e J. A. MILLER 2Sheets Sheet 2.

LAMP SUPPORT. No. 439,671. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ACTON MILLER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LAMP-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,671, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed November 20, 1889. Serial No. 330,997. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES ACTON MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Supports, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

The invention relates to the class of structures for supporting lamps on streets, driveways, lawns, and similar outrof-door places, and the object is to provide a simple and cheap device of this class for so supporting electric, gas, or oil lamps that they may be easily raised and rigidly supported high in the air or lowered within reach from the ground for renewing, adjusting, or cleaning.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the support holding an oil-lamp. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the support. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the lamp lowered. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on enlarged scale, on plane denoted byline 00 x of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail back view of the connecting-rod-locking mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail front view of the locking mechanism on the base of the oscillating lever. Fig. 7 is a side View of the same. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the top of the support. Fig. 9 is an edge View of the same. Fig. 10 is a sectionalview of the post on plane denoted by line y y of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the letter a denotes a post, which is set up in the ground in the place where it is desired to support a lamp. This post is preferably formed of tubular metal, as iron or steel pipes, in three lengths, connected together by the joints a a", and provided at the upper end with a cap a. To the lower end of the post is secured an anchor a', which is preferably cast to shape with projecting prongs and fins that present considerable surface to the earth, so as to hold the post firmly. A similar anchor c is loosely placed upon the post and allowed to slide down into the opening during the filling in of the dirt to further aid in steady ing the post. An oscillating lever Z) is pivoted near its center to the top of the post a. This lever in the form shown is a triangular truss, composed of tubes 1), connected together at their ends by castings b" and braced at the center by the ties b 19, this form combining strength, lightness, andcheapness. The upper end of the lever b is swiveled to the lamp-supporting rod 0 by means of an arm which projects from a collar 0, that is clamped upon the rod 0 and passes through i an opening in the casting b.

the connecting-rod d is pivoted to the post, so-

that during any portion of the oscillation of the lever b the lamp-supporting rod 0 is kept parallel to the post athat is, always upright. v

Upon the upper end of the lamp-supporting rod is swiveled a spider e, to the arms 6' of which is bolted the lamp-holding frame f.

A spring-bolt g is borne in a socket in a plate h, that is preferably cast integral with the casting b" on the lower end of the lever b, and a mortised lugz'projects'from the joint a on the post into the path of the lower end of the lever, so that when the lever is oscillated to an upright position it is prevented from further movement by the engagement of the spring-bolt with the Walls of the mortise in the lug. A case or padlock may, if desired, be attached to this plate to secure the bolt to prevent tampering with the post or the lamp.

A catch 7t is provided for holding the connecting-rod (Z in an upright position, if desired. This catch consists of a lever k, that is pivoted between lugs on a collar encircling the rod, one end of the lever having a hook 70', which engages with a shoulder Z on a casting Z, which is attached to the post a. The opposite end of the lever 7c has a spring,

which projects slightly from the barrel and tends to hold the hook in engagement with the shoulder on the post. The casting Z is preferably integral with the cap a' of the post and is forked, so as to receive and guide the rod d to the position for the proper en- IOO gagement of the locking parts. A spring is placed in the barrel attached to this casting to aid in starting the rod in the light direction when the lamp is being lowered. It is not essential, however, to this invention that this locking device be employed, as the lever will stand upright without being locked there. A counterpoise mis attached to the lower end of the lever l) to balance the weight of the lamp when the device is in operation.

To lower the lamp for adjusting, renewing, or cleaning, the catch on the lever 7.; is disengaged from the shoulder on the casting attached to the top of the post, the spring-bolt g withdrawn from the mortise in the lug t, and the lever allowed to turn on its pivot, the counterpoised end going up and the lamp end coming down within reach from the ground. The connecting-rod (l is always parallel with the axis of the lever l), and the la1npsupporting rod is parallel with the post a. Thus the lamp is firmly held in a vertical position at all times, and if the lamp be filled with oil there is no danger of spilling the liquid.

If an electric lamp is held by the support, the circnitqvires may lead through the tubular post a, the connecting-rod (Z, and the post 0 to the lamp, and if it is a gas-lamp that is held by the support the gas may travel through the same path to a burner at the top of the post- 0 within the globe.

This structure holds the lamp firmly upright, is strong, durable, simple, cheap, and easily operated to lift a lamp high into the air or lower it to the ground.

I claim as my invention- 1. A lamp support consist-ing of a post bearing an oscillating lever of the first class having a counterpoise-weight at one end and a lamp-supporting frame at the other, a j ointed rod pivoted at one end to the post and at the other to the oscillating lever, substantially as specified.

2. A lamp-support consisting of a post, two levers pivoted at one end to opposite sides of the post and at the other to a lamp-supporting red, one of said levers bearing a locking device adapted to make connection with the post to secure the levers in a vertical position, substantially as specified.

3. A lamp support consisting of a post bearing an oscillating lever, one end of which has locking mechanism which by contact with a lug on the post holds the lever upright, the other end of the lever being pivoted to a lampsupporting rod,and a connecting-rod pivoted to the post below the pivotal point of the lever and also pivoted to the lamp-supporting rod, substantially as specified.

-l. A lamp support consisting of a post bearing anchors a" a, an oscillating lever having a locking-bolt which by contact with a lug on the post holds the lever firmly upright, a connecting-rod pivoted to the post and bearing a locking-lever which by en gagement with a shoulder attached to the post firmly holds the rod upright, a lamp-supporting rod pivoted to the ends of the lever and connecting-rod, and a lamp-supporting frame swiveled to the upper end of. the rod,snbstantially as specified.

JAMES ACTON MILLER.

Witnesses:

HARRY R. WILLIAMs, A. B. JENKINS. 

